Jeans...?

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Hey all,About to start class October 8th, and I'm curious what sort of jeans I need! Sorry if it's a stupid question. I've read you usually want 100% cotton but everything that's 100% is so expensive. My class schedule says:"REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Each student must outfit themselves in work boots, jeans or heavy work pants and long sleeve flame retardant shirt. You will be provided with student workbooks and a starter kit of welding safety equipment."Boots and the shirt/jacket I have. But I've read not to get pants with a lot of spandex, which seems to be what all jeans for women are made of now! Dickies, Levi, Wrangler, etc. okay? Apologies if this was on another post, I tried searching the forums but was having issues really finding much.Thanks for the help,Pat
Reply:Originally Posted by LoonestaHey all,About to start class October 8th, and I'm curious what sort of jeans I need! Sorry if it's a stupid question. I've read you usually want 100% cotton but everything that's 100% is so expensive. My class schedule says:"REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Each student must outfit themselves in work boots, jeans or heavy work pants and long sleeve flame retardant shirt. You will be provided with student workbooks and a starter kit of welding safety equipment."Boots and the shirt/jacket I have. But I've read not to get pants with a lot of spandex, which seems to be what all jeans for women are made of now! Dickies, Levi, Wrangler, etc. okay? Apologies if this was on another post, I tried searching the forums but was having issues really finding much.Thanks for the help,Pat
Reply:Originally Posted by ShortbusWelderYes, the jeans you described are ok. Just  make sure they aren't frayed, and stay away from fabric softner.. Also, if you smoke, don't leave a lighter in your jeans pocket. Good luck with school...
Reply:yeah lighter explosions in your front pockets mean you might not have kids...or fun in the future. I just buy cheap levis or something.Make sure your boots are laced up well and your jeans are over your boots. I always preferred full height bootsLast edited by Canoe2fish; 09-16-2012 at 08:28 PM.Thermal Arc Fabricator 2101970 Lincoln RedfaceMiller 150 STLStill need a Syncrowave and a plasma and a milling machine and a lathe and a bigger shop and a....
Reply:Originally Posted by Canoe2fishyeah lighter explosions in your front pockets mean you might not have kids...or fun in the future. I just buy cheap levis or something.Make sure your boots are laced up well and your jeans are over your boots. I always preferred full height boots
Reply:My general preference is Carharts, but I wear the Dickies work pants in the summer. Carharts usually run me about $40 or so for the cotton duck work pants, the lighter Dickies painters pants run around $20. The Dickies last about 1/2 as long as the Carharts, so it's about a wash price wise.I just ordered a set of heavy work pants from Duluth Trading company. Their "Firehose" pants are supposed to come with a lifetime warranty against wear and abrasion, so we'll see how they do. They do cost more, ran about $65 plus shipping, but if I can get more wear out of them in the knees than I do my Carharts, it's probably worth it. 90% of the time it's the knees that go, so we'll see how the warranty works in a year or so..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:You might even consider  bib overalls too. Might be a good investment to go over your jeans and prolong the jeans from getting  pinholes.
Reply:I wear wrangler cowboy cut jeans.  They are $20 bucks a pair and last me quite a while.  I do however strive hard to keep them in good shape.  I'm consious of where my sparks are falling when cutting/welding and also when grinding.  You can't stop the sparks from hitting you but you can limit their contact.  Finally, invest in a good set of knee pads, this will help with wearing holes in the knees.Good Luck!Matthew MortonTexas A&M '06Logsdon Seminary '13"Who Dares Wins""AFTF""WH2PH"SA 200 (Code: 5337)TB 302CP 302 w/22A Wire FeederMillerMatic 200Miller Syncrowave 200MillerMatic 252BurnTables 4x4 CNC MachineHypertherm 65
Reply:I've been wearing rustler jeans for many yrs before I retired and still wear them and they are the cheapest and last just as long as any other brand other than carharts.                                     MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Carhartts every pair fits the same and they last a year..Dickies not a single pair fits the same, levis are thin as hell and wranglers im to fat for wranglers.I forgot how to change this.
Reply:I mostly wear bibs and only Road House bibs. American made in OK. Quality made and very comfortable and last for ever. They have been around forever.
Reply:i also wear rustlers with slip on work boots. DON"T do like a gal that showed up to my shop a couple weeks ago did. after telling her to wear long dungarees and leather boots and a heavy cotton shirt, she shows up in knee length skin tight plastic pants, thongs...on her feet, don't know if she wore them elsewhere, and a halter top.  well after trying to figure how i could make this work considering that this petite young lady was a definite improvement to the looks of the other shop inhabitants i sadly told her i didn't have enough leather to hide all of her attributes so she needed to come back dressed more appropriately.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:I use to wear nothing but Levi's and Carharts, and I still have a few pairs from high school that aren't torn too badly (I graduated like 10 years ago), and my girlfriend a few years back made me buy some designer jeans and most of them look ten years old, despite the only wear and tear on them coming from sitting in class back when I was in college.  And guess what I paid more for.
Reply:The only time I've replaced Carharts is because they could stand up on their own (paint/costic/other chemicals that don't come off in the wash). now I've got two pairs that I alternate through. You should be able to find pairs for women either online or at your local work wear store. I know the ones around here carry them regularly.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:I love Carharts. Working heavy iron or ornimetal, the most comfortable and I could get a year, maybe, out of them. Oh yah, the ONLY jean I could not blow the crotch out of. Try to find a product called Tear Mender or Tear Grease. If you get a hole, tear or even start fraying. You can make a patch, smear this stuff on, press the patch on with you hand then put some on the edges, work it in with you fingers. It will dry in a short time and will NEVER come off. Cut your frays short and rub some Tear grease in and they won't fray anymore.I've had some jeans when I was doing rebar that was more patches then pants.
Reply:I wear the original dickies double knee work pants. These can be tricky to find as there are two quality levels of dickies, avoid the cheap style with the button fly as they are much lower quality, the good ones have a metal hook and loop fly.Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:Walmart jeans under 15.00 and last just as long welding and cutting . The best are Bailey Logging jeans and Hickory logging shirts , a little more money .
Reply:A couple of years ago, I found Riggs Jeans by Wrangler.  They felt heavier, were fuller cut and appeared to be sewn stronger than Levi's. The price was very attractice.  I have been happy with them, unfortunatly the low price was because the store where I bought them was closing them out.  Wish I had bought more.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Carhartt's...my choice.  In cold weather, the insulated ones are warm if you don't need insulated coveralls or bibs.Levi's have gotten so thin that sparks can fly through...shame.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWMy general preference is Carharts, but I wear the Dickies work pants in the summer. Carharts usually run me about $40 or so for the cotton duck work pants, the lighter Dickies painters pants run around $20. The Dickies last about 1/2 as long as the Carharts, so it's about a wash price wise.I just ordered a set of heavy work pants from Duluth Trading company. Their "Firehose" pants are supposed to come with a lifetime warranty against wear and abrasion, so we'll see how they do. They do cost more, ran about $65 plus shipping, but if I can get more wear out of them in the knees than I do my Carharts, it's probably worth it. 90% of the time it's the knees that go, so we'll see how the warranty works in a year or so.
Reply:I like Carharts but I have mostly Wranglers. I think more important than brand is "fit" I know younger folks like those loose fitting jeans but if you wear tighter, but not skin tight, the fire balls will bounce off instead of getting caught on creases and folds.
Reply:Originally Posted by jbmprodsi also wear rustlers with slip on work boots. DON"T do like a gal that showed up to my shop a couple weeks ago did. after telling her to wear long dungarees and leather boots and a heavy cotton shirt, she shows up in knee length skin tight plastic pants, thongs...on her feet, don't know if she wore them elsewhere, and a halter top.  well after trying to figure how i could make this work considering that this petite young lady was a definite improvement to the looks of the other shop inhabitants i sadly told her i didn't have enough leather to hide all of her attributes so she needed to come back dressed more appropriately.
Reply:Synthetics can melt into your skin when a blob of hot metal lands on you, that's why you wear cotton or leather. A fleece can turn a small nasty burn into a date with a plastic surgeon.You want loose enough clothes for easy movement, but not loose sleeves, cause of high speed spinney things like grinders, lathes, band saws...Frayed clothes == tinder.  Hold a match under some denim*, it may catch fire, but it probably won't. Hold a match under some frayed denim, it WILL catch fire.(*Not while you are wearing it)Shirts with pockets can catch hot sparks, then they rest against your skin as they burn through. Welders shirts should not have open front pockets.UV from welding causes skin burns, just like the sun, only it's more concentrated. And like sun burn, you find out later that it hurts. And it can cause skin cancer. Cover all skin.You get the idea....But they will go through this and more at the course.
Reply:Don't spend big bucks on consumables like pants, they will be filled with little pock marks from the spatter in no time, just like the back of your shirt. Go to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or other supporters of the greater 47%. That's where I found mine, a pair of GAP cargo pants, heavy weight material, double layered front even, with all the pockets for like $5 - I love'm. Cabela's also sold a similar construction for about $30 new last Spring. Just make sure if you buy used there is NO FRAYING ANYWHERE. Finally divided cotton is just like tinder. I learned this after setting my Levis on fire on night ... damn it's getting warm ... YIKES!Last edited by wirehead; 09-29-2012 at 10:02 PM.XMT304 (school)SP125+ (home)HF 4x6 BandsawGood judgement comes from experience and much of that comes from bad judgement.
Reply:Carhartt,and wrangler cowboy cut. Good luck and get a welders cap bud.Shake and BakeHaven't seen it mentioned, and it may fall under the "common sense" clause, but...No Cuffs!Had a classmate burn up some jeans and his left boot because he was on the track torch, and a nice wandering blob landed in the cuff, burnt through his pants and boot before he realized it.CroesiusTennessee Tech Center, learnin' the ropes.
Reply:I wear dickies and carhart but also have a leather apron over everything when I have to weld sitting down.